Reds and greens galore: Northern lights put on another show

Their act hasn't changed that much over the past several thousand years, but the northern lights still put on a dazzling show whenever they take the stage.

In this case, the stage was located near the U.K. and Northern Ireland. Residents were treated to a spectacular display of greens and reds — no special effects needed — on Thursday night.

The northern lights, also called aurora borealis, materialize when gaseous particles in the atmosphere mix it up with charged particles from the sun. The particles collide with Earth's atmosphere, and the results are never a letdown, no matter how many times you've seen 'em.